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censorship

It seems that PT, has decided to censor our language. Every time we type a series of other swear words, in our logs or comments, it seems they get replaced by stars.

Now, I can understand why you are doing this in comments, because they are there for everyone else to see. But I do not appreciate having my own log censored. After all, anyone who finds my log offensive because of swear-words or anything else, has the freedom to leave groups that have me in it (or ask me to leave).

I have started to use my log as a kind of journal, and for that I need access to all the words in the dictionary. I've tried keeping journals before, and I never managed to keep it up, but here, because I'm logging my food anyway, it's not hard for me to also write a little about how I'm feeling that day, and it helps me emotionally to do so.

By all means, censor our comments and our public writing.
But please, PT, please don't censor our logs.

- powerfrau


Wed. Jul 26, 1:29pm

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Yes, we agree too. We're not sure what happened, a change was made and we're working on fixing right now.

PT

Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 1:30 PM

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well said pfrau
-margeis

Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 1:36 PM

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working on it...please give us a little time. Thank you.

PT.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 1:40 PM

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why do you need to swear...does it get the point across better??

Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 5:18 PM

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It's not a need. It's an option open to all users of this wonderful, colourful language. And, yes, sometimes it does get the point across better. Perhaps many make the assumption that all swearing is necessarily vitriolic in tone or purley the domain of monosyllabic cro-magnons. I can assure you this is not so, as I just whole-heartedly thanked my team for all the "shits and giggles." This is a comment of endearment and was taken as such. My team is comprised of graduate students, Ph.Ds, Ph.D. candidates, and all-round interesting people each of whom can curse like a sailor should they choose, in a non-judgemental environment.

Perhaps we should ask ourselves how and why certain words carry such a taboo, when the sentiment is equally expressed and indeed intended by "acceptable" terms, such as "sucks," "gosh darn it," "WTF," "freakin," and the like. We should also understand that "inappropriate" is a very fluid concept. It is influenced by a myriad of factors, and what you may deem to be entirely acceptable is likely no such thing in another time and place.

I believe the taboo surrounding the words at our diposal is one to be overcome, not mindlessly propigated. When a certain sector of the population expresses discontent at "foul language," the discontent is almost always, in reality, unease or dislike of the sentiment expressed. If this is the case, please take exeption to the sentiment and base an intelligent argument on such, not the word. That is a knee-jerk reaction based on cultural programming.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 6:01 PM

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ITFA.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 6:22 PM

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6:01 Pm Poster

Wow - you are highly intellegent and very educated. Thank you for your post. Some tmes a swear word really does capture the mood or emotion much better than any thing else.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 7:51 PM

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6:01 poster, I totally agree with you! Thanks for posting this. I would like to think that a majority of the members here would agree with you as well.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 7:55 PM

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what does ITFA mean?

man, there are so many abbreviations on here . . .i can't keep up!! Is there a legend somewhere where i could get familiarized with some of them? haha!

Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 9:44 PM

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It means, " I totally, um, agree" I think.

Thursday, July 27, 2006, 2:52 AM

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No, not buying it. When I see swear words I usually think, oh, you just can't think of a better way to express yourself. How sad. Big turn off for me and lots of people.

Thursday, July 27, 2006, 5:55 AM

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wow, I want me join that phd team. I'd learn sumthing I'm sure

Thursday, July 27, 2006, 8:07 AM

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so, if when you type these colorful words into your log and some of the letters get replaced with ***, don't you still get the idea of the word? how does this diminish the meaning?

Thursday, July 27, 2006, 9:26 AM

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besides . . .what is a swear word anyhow?? it's all relative! growing up, my mom taught me that calling my sister a "jerk" was a swear. Also, telling someone to "shutup" was a swear too . . .along w/ all the other words most of us know. who cares what someone writes in their blog. it's THEIR blog, their business, public or not. don't read it if you don't like it.

Thursday, July 27, 2006, 1:41 PM

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Well, well, well, there is another censorship going on too. I have asked three times about the calorie count on a certain body fluid - gone, every single one of them, every single time. Even out of this thread - gone. I'm very disappointed.

Thursday, July 27, 2006, 4:34 PM

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do you expect to be taken seriously when you act as a child would?

Thursday, July 27, 2006, 4:35 PM

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that is idiotic! reallly. Post your question on a site for prepubescent teens!

Thursday, July 27, 2006, 4:44 PM

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Very interesting discussion.

It's always been interesting to me that so many people, here and elsewhere, will say the sound of these words displease them and wonder why they need to be used.

Are our negative feelings about these words - and they are just words - conditioned or something more? I think we all know there is nothing that makes one four letter word inherently evil and one acceptable except for beliefs conditioned over many years of being told they were and continuing to tell ourselves they are bad. "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."

This is not to disparage anyone who is offended by such language. I understand it and don't intend to press anyone to change. But as someone said above, how can ask why we need to say these words and yet ignore the question of why we have these strong feelings about them in the first place.

I think as people who are losing weight, and many of whom probably have some experience with the prejudices of others, we might also examine our own beliefs. Allow people their own personal space on a medium dedicated to free expression, and instead question ourselves on why some people's language, comments, or beliefs make us feel bad.

Thursday, July 27, 2006, 5:04 PM

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Moral questions, which I guess you could say the debate over swear words is, often distract from more pressing matters. It is sort of a false outrage, for example, to care nothing for the many people dying in war, and yet stop the presses because a pop singer exposes a nipple at the Super Bowl. It often seems to be to be a very dishonest form of protest about the things really wrong in the world, as if we can show we care about right and wrong by complaining someone uses a bad word. Those who are most puritanical about it, are often those most lacking in concern for more urgent matters of true suffering. I think the issue is whether someone curses in their blog is a non issue.

Thursday, July 27, 2006, 5:08 PM

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4:44 PM Poster

I don't think it's idiotic or something even a teenager would care to know. As the calorie ranges I've heard are from 7 to 1000, I think I should be able to know so that I can make an informed DIET decision. If it's as high as a 1000, just as if I was going to eat chocolate or a hamburger - Do I really want these calories? I can't make that decision without the knowledge. And I'm an adult well beyond my teens or 20's or even 30's. I think it's an important question and I RESENT being censored! And I'm not going to go ask a teenager becuase I want a medical FACT, not a myth. I thought this website would be adult enough to actually find the answer but apprerantly NOT.

Thursday, July 27, 2006, 7:20 PM

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powerfrau - your log isn't public and I wish it was becuause I would like to chat with you. if you are still watching this email - please touch base with me at my log - midori - Thanks

Thursday, July 27, 2006, 7:25 PM

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7:20 poster- do you really think anyone is taking you seriously? It is not a serious question. Serious questions remain on this board. Posts just looking for attention or shock value do not. As Perry Farrell once famously said, nothing's shocking. But some things are just boring.

Thursday, July 27, 2006, 7:44 PM

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To the above poster...do all questions need to be serious? I cant lose weight in such a serious enviornment! I rely on funny questions and comments to keep me going!!! (And now that it's been brought up, I really want to know the answer!)

-Not a Teen (but a teacher who...gasp...teaches your teens...ahhh the horror!)

Thursday, July 27, 2006, 9:43 PM

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okay.. for the 4:24 poster who's question has been removed.... If you go to ask.com and type tin the question, you will get several websites (medical at that) The give you the info you are looking for... but believe it or not it is very low about 10 calories on average.

Thursday, July 27, 2006, 10:12 PM

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sperm is mostly protein . . .where did you get the 1000 calorie range??? man, if that was the case, your guy sure is producing an awful lot!! haha (i am assuming sperm is the body fluid we are discussing). low cal, and is not going to affect you weight.

also bravo!!! 5:04 and 5:08 posters-i could not agree with you more.

Friday, July 28, 2006, 12:59 AM

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Would you guys stop before they kill the thread? Is it possible to phrase things is a classy manner?

Friday, July 28, 2006, 9:15 AM

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for the record, not everyone here thinks it was an idiotic question. It made perfect sense to me :) I applaud you for having the guts to ask and challenge the notion that others are closed minded.

My husband and I had a similar discussion to this in the car on the way to my parents' place the other day. (yes, it's a long boring car ride) I think the conclusion we arrived at is that originally most people found the INTENT offensive, not the words themselves. I believe that all words exist for the point of expressing ourselves as clearly as possible. If someone truely feels strongly enough about a particular topic that they need to use a strong word to express their feelings, isn't it wrong to deprive them of their right to communicate? "watering the comment down" is just perpetuating a falsehood. We have enough problems communicating in this world without deliberately constructing barriers to make it worse.

Of course that's just my opinion :D I can respect others' rights to prefer to steer clear of that sort of language. I just really don't see why it would bother anyone so much. To each their own I suppose.

Friday, July 28, 2006, 9:16 AM

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well i guess it has been established that certain words/content are not permissable on this site. now we know. if you feel a need to swear or ask "inappropriate" questions, find somewhere else...
this is not a site that touts free speech in all forms, it is designed and marketed as a site to support weight-loss. and maybe we all should refocus on that priority.

Friday, July 28, 2006, 10:33 AM

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i don't know, these threads have been interesting enough the last few days that i haven't felt the need to binge on something sweet! hehe!

Friday, July 28, 2006, 2:13 PM

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that's funny!! i, too, have not been noshing as much at my desk because i'm reading these threads...i guess support comes in all kinds of ways...

Friday, July 28, 2006, 2:30 PM

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Reinstate my log's history!

Monday, July 14, 2008, 9:57 AM

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How much time do you spend sitting here reading and responding to everyone's comments vs exersizing?

Monday, July 14, 2008, 10:39 AM

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I usually have a very active life where exercising is concerned, but have had to slow down due to a back injury, and need to give it time rest, but I should be back up and running soon.
Thank you for asking.

Monday, July 14, 2008, 10:47 AM

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humor

Laughter is the best medicine...it lifts your endorphins, and excercises you abdominal muscles! It relieves stress too! And reading this thread has made me laugh so hard it was well worth the time! Who needs soap operas?

Monday, July 14, 2008, 1:29 PM

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I got my chuckles from "Passions" Do any of you remember that Soap Opera? The quality and the production values were incredible!!!

-buzzard

Monday, July 14, 2008, 4:35 PM

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